Marine drive unit with the primary shaft bearing mounted in the engine flywheel cover

Abstract

A marine drive unit in combination with a coupling (6) between the engine (4) and the propeller drive unit (2). The unit has a divided flywheel cover (20), the proximal portion (22) of which is joined to the engine and has an axially extending section (25) with a connecting portion (38), which has, as seen in the drawing, an inner profile which is upwardly tapered both longitudinally and transversely to the drive unit. A primary shaft (16) is joined via drive knuckles (15) to the propeller drive unit (2) and is borne in a bearing (28) mounted in a seat (27) in a first end of a bearing holder (26). The primary shaft (16) engages a flywheel (19). The other end of the bearing holder (26) is joined to the distal portion (24) of the flywheel cover. The distal portion (24) has a supporting portion (31) with an exterior profile complementary to the interior profile of the connecting portion (38). The proximal portion (22) of the flywheel cover can be anchored to its distal portion (24) via a screw (42) and the bearing holder (26) has a rubber element (32) welded to its outside, the rubber element being mounted in abutment with a shoulder (36) in a passage (12) in a bushing elements (10) fixed in the boat transom (9).

I claim: 
     
       1. In a marine drive unit with engine mounting in combination with a coupling between an engine and a propeller drive, said unit comprising a bearing holder joined to a flywheel cover, said bearing holder having a seat for a bearing for a shaft extending from the engine, said shaft being a primary shaft in the drive unit, and a resilient element which is disposed between the bearing holder and a bushing means arranged on a boat transom and partially penetrating said boat transom, the improvement wherein the flywheel cover is divided and has a proximal portion joined to the engine and having a connecting portion, and a distal portion joined to the bearing holder and having a supporting portion, shaped to complement the connecting portion, and the engine, when the connecting portion is in precise contact with the supporting portion, is correctly aligned in relation to the bearing mounted in the bearing holder seat. 
     
     
       2. Marine drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is a rubber element, which is welded to the bearing holder and the rubber element with attached bearing holder and flywheel cover distal portion joined thereto is mounted in contact with a shoulder and a bushing means in such a manner that the distal portion of the flywheel cover is located on the engine side of means, and means, and the bearing is located in a passage in the bushing means. 
     
     
       3. Marine drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising a floater valve with a float which can move between a ready position and an operating position, said float being disposed in its ready position between the primary shaft and a bottom of the boat, whereby if the shaft is removed and water rushes in through an opening for the primary shaft in the bearing holder, the float floats on the water to its operating position in sealing relation to the opening in the bearing holder. 
     
     
       4. Marine drive unit according to claim 3, wherein the float is a ball, the ready position is defined by a cup, and the opening for the primary shaft is made as a valve seat adapted for the ball. 
     
     
       5. Marine drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a flat contact surface. 
     
     
       6. Marine drive unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the connecting portion and the supporting portion has a contact surface in the form of an inner profile. 
     
     
       7. Marine drive unit according to claim 6, wherein the inner profile is a profile tapered in one direction both transversely and longitudinally to the drive unit. 
     
     
       8. Marine drive unit according to claim 6, wherein the inner profile is V-shaped in at least one plane lying perpendicular to a central axis of the primary shaft. 
     
     
       9. Marine drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is securely anchorable to the supporting portion by means of a fastener element. 
     
     
       10. Marine drive unit according to claim 9, wherein the fastener element is a screw fastener, which can be anchored by means of a threaded screw.